Attitudes towards use of performance-enhancing substances and body modification techniques. A comparison between elite athletes and the general population

Medical and technological developments open up new possibilities for modifying the and enhancing performance in various areas of life. This study compares attitudes Norwegian elite athletes (n ¼ 234) with attitudes in the general population (n ¼ 428). Whereas vitamins, nutritional supplements and hypoxic rooms were by more than 65% of both athletes and population the rejection of EPO, steroids and amphetamines were similarly clear in both groups. The athletes in general more reluctant to use performance enhancement means and body techniques than the general population. A significantly higher percentage the population than the athletes accepted a) means to avoid memory failure in old (61. 6 versus 43. 2, sig. 0. 000), b) means to avoid decrease in physical fitness among people (48. 6 versus 34. 7, sig. 0. 005), c) liposuction (30. 1 versus 12. 4, sig. 0. 000), d) for obesity (15. 3 versus 9. 4, sig. 0. 035), e) silicon implants (9. 9 versus 5. 1, sig. 0. 001). The athletes were significantly more satisfied with their bodies than the (sig. 0. 000). Males were more positive about the use of performance means, whereas females were more positive about body modification. Males were significantly more positive about the use of a) means that strength and endurance (sig. 0. 002, and b) means that increase sexual (sig 0. 000). Females were significantly more positive than males about the of liposuction (sig. 0. 000), plastic surgery on the face (sig. 0. 013), surgery to obesity (sig. 0. 000) and silicon implants (sig. 0. 000).